USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida has announced that farmers, ranchers, and forest owners can now apply for financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The signup period is open until November 17 for the fiscal year 2018 funding.
Assistance Helps Farmers, Ranchers Conserve Natural Resources
Application deadline for financial assistance Nov. 17
Florida farmers, ranchers, and forest owners can apply until Nov. 17 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the fiscal year 2018 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year.
Through EQIP, agricultural landowners may receive financial and technical assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals and related resources. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland and other farm or ranch lands. The application deadline also applies to the following EQIP-funded initiatives:
- Organic Producer Initiative
- Seasonal High Tunnels
- Energy Initiative
- Pollinator Initiative
- Everglades Initiative
- Longleaf Pine Initiative
- National Water Quality Initiative
- Working Lands for Wildlife
- Gulf of Mexico Initiative
- Strikeforce
Begin by visiting your local NRCS field office and requesting help developing a conservation plan. To learn about technical and financial assistance available from NRCS, go to Getting Started with NRCS.